Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.war-historical (More info?)
OK, OK, I know what I said. Nazis bad, blah, blah, blah. Starforce
bad, ditto. Rare is it on Usenet that someone will admit that they
were horribly wrong, but I must in support of this game. It's not
perfect, but it's a chasm-leap over any previous WWII
sub sim, and the developers deserve support.
I won't do a laundry list of pros and cons; they are available at
several forum sites like subsim.com. The game has a few glitches that
should be patched, and a few early (and late) features that were
dropped. There are vague rumors of an add-on pack to add wolfpacks for
example, an AI problem that was punted to get the game out.
But what's there is stunning. Historical accuracy folk should be happy
(so far as my knowledge of U-boats go; I've already learned a bunch.)
Good tactics are rewarded as is good patrol discipline. The
crew-management element is a good start on what I've long envisioned.
It could be better, but it's a good start. ("Do I rest my best
look-out on the midwatch, or hope he can find me an easy night target
even though tired? Can my fuel situation stand me spending a day at 50
meters so the crew can get some sleep or do I risk driving them hard
and the reload taking too long during an attack due to fatigue?" Etc.)
But what sold me was the graphics engine. I know gamers disparage
graphics, but here they make the game. I've been to sea on a big,
heavy nuke, so everything isn't the same, but one thing that is the
same is the frightening power of the sea, and no developer has ever
gotten it so right. Hard to put into words, but when you clear the
harbor (the game requires piloting and seaman's eye, a great
inclusion) and the boat begins meeting the swells, the spray starts
flying, and that slam (every bubblehead knows) begins as the bow is
tossed about by mere water . . . it's just visceral. Add great sea and
wind sounds, atmospherics like moon phases, realistic dawns and dusks,
biologics like birds acting as birds do near a harbor, and the game
just pulls you in. I actually spent thirty minutes last night just
standing on the bridge in a rainstorm watching the world (and my
lookouts--a CO's job is never done.)
I've only done the naval academy and three short patrols in a Dugout
Type II to the Scottish coast, so the "good" weather and seas still
await once I can afford to fleet up to a type VII and go into the
Atlantic. I've sunk five ships in three trips (one neutral, oops), and
worked to find them. Gone is the interstate traffic of SH1. I've been
pounced by one DD, a corvette, and two armed trawlers, plus a dawn
aircraft patrol that nearly got me out of the rising sun. Bastids drop
markers on your scope!
Lots of realism levels. Interiors are very detailed. The sinking and
explosion graphics are so varied I've yet to see two ships sink the
same way, and they behave like sinking ships too. Some flood, some
snap, some explode (depending on cargo), tankers burn, some roll over,
some don't. I could go on, but as I said, graphics heaven.
I've played on both my laptop (128 meg video card) and my new desktop
gaming beast and neither shows any ill-effects from Starforce. I did a
lot of research on both sides of this obnox. technology and in the end
decided to chance it. So far nothing seems amiss. When I uninstall
I'll be sure it's really gone though.
It's been a long time since a game grabbed me like this. Lt. Bartmann
(two 'n's just like great-grandpop <g>) is doing pretty well in late
1939, but the good times won't last. If I see 1943 it'll be a miracle.
The game has acceleration to make the dead times go by, but the crew
management never stops, just like RL.
The devs want to make SH4 in the PTO, which was another reason I
decided to offer my revenue to Ubisoft. The idea of this engine
attached to the USN's campaign is just a little appealing. Sailing
past a burning Ford Island on 12/8/1941 bound for Empire waters and
revenge . . . one can only hope.
So, if sims appeal to hard-core wargamers I'd say don't bypass this
one due only to the Starforce issue. It really is a quality design and
coding job. And it (apparently) won't turn you into a Nazi. <g>
Steve
OK, OK, I know what I said. Nazis bad, blah, blah, blah. Starforce
bad, ditto. Rare is it on Usenet that someone will admit that they
were horribly wrong, but I must in support of this game. It's not
perfect, but it's a chasm-leap over any previous WWII
sub sim, and the developers deserve support.
I won't do a laundry list of pros and cons; they are available at
several forum sites like subsim.com. The game has a few glitches that
should be patched, and a few early (and late) features that were
dropped. There are vague rumors of an add-on pack to add wolfpacks for
example, an AI problem that was punted to get the game out.
But what's there is stunning. Historical accuracy folk should be happy
(so far as my knowledge of U-boats go; I've already learned a bunch.)
Good tactics are rewarded as is good patrol discipline. The
crew-management element is a good start on what I've long envisioned.
It could be better, but it's a good start. ("Do I rest my best
look-out on the midwatch, or hope he can find me an easy night target
even though tired? Can my fuel situation stand me spending a day at 50
meters so the crew can get some sleep or do I risk driving them hard
and the reload taking too long during an attack due to fatigue?" Etc.)
But what sold me was the graphics engine. I know gamers disparage
graphics, but here they make the game. I've been to sea on a big,
heavy nuke, so everything isn't the same, but one thing that is the
same is the frightening power of the sea, and no developer has ever
gotten it so right. Hard to put into words, but when you clear the
harbor (the game requires piloting and seaman's eye, a great
inclusion) and the boat begins meeting the swells, the spray starts
flying, and that slam (every bubblehead knows) begins as the bow is
tossed about by mere water . . . it's just visceral. Add great sea and
wind sounds, atmospherics like moon phases, realistic dawns and dusks,
biologics like birds acting as birds do near a harbor, and the game
just pulls you in. I actually spent thirty minutes last night just
standing on the bridge in a rainstorm watching the world (and my
lookouts--a CO's job is never done.)
I've only done the naval academy and three short patrols in a Dugout
Type II to the Scottish coast, so the "good" weather and seas still
await once I can afford to fleet up to a type VII and go into the
Atlantic. I've sunk five ships in three trips (one neutral, oops), and
worked to find them. Gone is the interstate traffic of SH1. I've been
pounced by one DD, a corvette, and two armed trawlers, plus a dawn
aircraft patrol that nearly got me out of the rising sun. Bastids drop
markers on your scope!
Lots of realism levels. Interiors are very detailed. The sinking and
explosion graphics are so varied I've yet to see two ships sink the
same way, and they behave like sinking ships too. Some flood, some
snap, some explode (depending on cargo), tankers burn, some roll over,
some don't. I could go on, but as I said, graphics heaven.
I've played on both my laptop (128 meg video card) and my new desktop
gaming beast and neither shows any ill-effects from Starforce. I did a
lot of research on both sides of this obnox. technology and in the end
decided to chance it. So far nothing seems amiss. When I uninstall
I'll be sure it's really gone though.
It's been a long time since a game grabbed me like this. Lt. Bartmann
(two 'n's just like great-grandpop <g>) is doing pretty well in late
1939, but the good times won't last. If I see 1943 it'll be a miracle.
The game has acceleration to make the dead times go by, but the crew
management never stops, just like RL.
The devs want to make SH4 in the PTO, which was another reason I
decided to offer my revenue to Ubisoft. The idea of this engine
attached to the USN's campaign is just a little appealing. Sailing
past a burning Ford Island on 12/8/1941 bound for Empire waters and
revenge . . . one can only hope.
So, if sims appeal to hard-core wargamers I'd say don't bypass this
one due only to the Starforce issue. It really is a quality design and
coding job. And it (apparently) won't turn you into a Nazi. <g>
Steve
)
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